Suppose I say to my boy, "Willie, I want you to go
out and bring me a glass of water." He says he doesn't want to go. "I
didn't ask you whether you wanted to go or not, Willie; I told you to go."
"But I don't want to go," he says. "I tell you, you must go and
get me a glass of water." He does not like to go. But he knows I am very
fond of grapes, and he is very fond of them himself, so he goes out, and some
one gives him a beautiful cluster of grapes. He comes in, and says, "Here,
papa; here is a beautiful cluster of grapes for you." "But what about
the water?" "Won't the grapes be acceptable, papa?" "No, my
boy, the grapes are not acceptable; I won't take them; I want you to get me a
glass of water." The little fellow doesn't want to get the water, but he
goes out, and this time some one gives him an orange. He brings it in and places
it before me. "Is that acceptable?" he asks. "No, no, no!" I
say, "I want nothing but water; you cannot do anything to please me until
you get the water." And so, my friends, to please God you must first obey
Him.